Moisture-supplying device for lithographic-printing machines



M. I.- STHAWN. MOISTURE SUPPLYING DEVICE FOR LITHOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 16, I921- L438A08, Patented Dec. 112,: 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHE 1- M. I STRAWN. MOISTURE SUPPLYING DEVICE FOR LITHOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHI NES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 16, I92].

Patented Dec. 12, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I I Jim/wars M. L. STRAWN. MOISTURE SUPPLYING DEVICE FOR LITHOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 16, I92]. IASSAUBD OIIOIO M. L. STRAWN.

MOISTURE SUPPLYING DEVICE FOR LITHOGRAPHJC PRINTING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED MAY 16, I921.

1,488,498.; Patented Dec.12,1922.

printing machines.

ordinarily rubber enters as one of the ele- Patented Dec. I2, 1922.

amp as MKRIO'N L. STRAWN,

. eMnNTjioF i 01 DES MOINES, IOWA.

mors'runn-surrrxme pnvrcn non Lirnoennrnid-rnmrme macnmns.

Application filed may 16,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARIoN L. STRAWN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Moisture-Supplying Device for Lithographic-Printing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a moisture supplying device of simple construction adapted for use with lithographic In so-called lithographic printing machines, there are used zinc plates or the like. On these plates, a drawing or picture or other matter is drawn or transferred from a drawing or engraving by a process which results in the existence of a water-repellent surface co-extensible with the matter; to be printed. Where such plates or the like are used, printers use a process inwhich niois-. ture is supplied to the zinc plate or the like. ,This moisture will adhere to the plate at all points, except where the drawing or ,other matter having the water-repellent surface exists. After subjecting'the plate to moisture, the plate is inked and the ink will adhere to the moisture-repellent portion of the" surface of the plate, but not to those portions, which have been moistened. The zin'c plate may be mounted on a printing roller.

The roller is then moved to position where the zinc plate contacts with a composition roller, which receives. the ink impression from the zinc plate. Printing is then done from theblanket. In the composition roller,

ments.

In the above process, considerable difiiculty has been encountered in the supply of the moisture in finely divided state and in uniform amount.

The object of the present invention therefore is to provide a moisture supplyingdevice, whereby-the supply of moisture can be uniformly furnished andcan be properly regulated for the purpose of printing.

A further and important object of my 'in- 1921. Serial No. 469,902.-

invention consists "in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device,'whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, a

and illustrated in the accompanying drawm which:

Figure 1 shows a rear elevation of a por- J tion of the frame of a' printing machine,

having my moisture supplying device installed thereon.

Figure 2 shows a detailed, sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1. Figure 3 shows a, longitudinal, sectional view through the primary moisture roller.

Figure 4 shows an end view of'a portion of a roller regulating mechanism.

Figure 5 shows a detailed, sectionalv view taken on the line 5- 5 of Figure 3.

rollers 15, 16 and 17. On the shaft 12 is a 85 gear. 18,-which meshes with thegear 19'on j the shaft 13. The gear 19 meshes with the gear 20 on the shaft 141.

'iliary frame consisting of end frame members 21 spaced fromeach other, as shown for instance in Figure 1, and having attheir rear ends, laterally extending supporting Farms 22, the ends of which restnpon the supporting members 11.

The arms 22 have extending through them Figure 6 shows a detailed view, partly in Supported on the main frame is an 'auxdotted lines in Figure 2, A screw bolt 24 is extended through each hole 23 and. screwed into the support 11. .The holes23 holes 23, illustrated foriinstance by the are of greater diameter than the shanks of 100. the screw bolts 24. A screw bolt- 25 is screwed into each' support 11- rearwardly vention is to provide means for using steam for supplying the moisture.

With these and other objects in view,-my

with relation to tl e screw bolt 24 thereof, and is designed to have its upper end bear against the lower surface of the arm 22.

On each screw bolt 25 is a lock nut 26 By means of the screw bolts 24 and 25,

the auxiliary frame members 21 may be lockedin various adjusted positions with relation to the main frame.

Mounted in the auxiliary frame members 21 are shafts 26, 27 and 28 of moisture distributing rollers 29, 30 and'31.

The rollers 29, 30 and 31 are covered with absorbent material 32.

contact with the surfaces of the rollers 29 .and 30.

The roller 31 is what is called a vibration roller and is arranged with its surface in bearing members 34 are mounted for rotation.

A transverse shaft 35 projects through the frame members 21 and is journaled at its ends eccentrically in the bearing members 34.

The bearing members 34 have arms 36 pro- 9 jecting downwardly and rearwardly in the form shown in the drawings, as illustrated for instance in Figures 1 and 4.

On the frame members 10 are brackets 37, in which are mounted set screws 38, the ends of which bear against the arms 36.

By loosening the screws 24 and then adjusting the screw bolts 38, the bearing member 34 may be rotated for thereby raising or lowering the eccentrically mounted shaft 35 and thereby causing either the roller 30 or the roller 29 to press more firmly against the roller 17.

Itis thus obvious that the pressure contact of the rollers 30 and 29 against the roller 17 may be regulated as may be desired.

Suitably supported on the auxiliary frame rearwardly with relation to the moisture rollers is what l[.may for convenience call the primary moisture roller 39, shown in detail in Figure 3.

Themoisture roller 39 has substantially the form of a hollow drum provided in its 55 surface with a large number of small perforations 40.- I I At one end of the drum 39 is a spindle 41 mounted in the frame member 21. the spindle 41 adjacent to the frame member 21 is a shoulder 42. At the other end of the drum 39 is a larger spindle 43 rotatably mounted in the frame member 21 and having a central bore 44. The drum 39 is covered with suitable absorbent material 45.

On the shaft or spindle 42 is a gear 46,

which meshes with a gear 47 on the shaft of the roller 31. The gear 47 meshes with gears 48 and 49 on' the shafts of the rollers 30-and 29. The gears 48 and 49 are meshed with the gear 20 on the shaft of the roller 17.

Mounted on the left-hand frame member 21, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, is a block or casting 50, which is held in place by means of a screw bolt 51. Extending vertically through the block or body 50 is a passage 52. Screwed into the lower end of the block or body 50 and communicating with the lower endof the passage 52 is a tube 53, which projects through the bore 44 and longitudinally through the hollow roller 39.

In the opposite end of the tube 53 is a screw plug 54, having a pointed end 55 rotatably mounted in a socket 56 in the end of the roller 39 on the inside thereof. In the lower part of the tube'53 is a series of spaced openings 57.

A series of screws 58 are mounted in the upper wall of the tube 53 and have their lower ends pointed, as at '59, to form valves for coacting with the openings 57.

By adjusting the screw valves 58, the flow of water through the openings 57 may be quite accurately regulated.

Mounted in the body 50 is a rod 60, the

.end portion, of which forms a controlling .valve for regulating the flow of water or the like downwardly through the passage 52.

At the opposite end of the rod 60 are spaced flanges '61 between which there is formed a guide-way 62.

On the shaft 41-outside the frame members 21, as shown for instance in Figure 3, is slidably mounted a disc 63, the periphery of which travels in the 'guideway 62 between the flanges 61. Fixed to the outer end of the shaft 41 is a disc 64.

Between the discs 63 and 64 are centrifugal ball governors 65, which are connected with the respective discs 63 and 64 by means of springs 66 and 67 or other suitable devices for the purpose.

lit will be seen that when the. shaft 4L is rotated and as the rapidity of such rotation increases, the balls 65 will be thrown outwardly by centrifugal force and will pull the disc 63 to the right, for pulling the rod 60 i to the right and thereby opening the way through the assage 52 past the valve formed by the lnner or left-hand end of the rod 60.

Connected with the upper end of the block or casing 50 is a flexible tube 66, which communicates with the passage 52.

On one of the frame members 10 is mounted a bracket 67 having a portion 68 projecting upwardly, as shown for instance in Figure 1. Supported on the bracket member 68 and held in adjusted position by means of the set screw 69 is a water tank 70, having at its lower portion a short discharge tube 71", communicating with the upper end of'the flexible tube 66. a

The tank or receptacle 70 may be verti- I cally adjusted on the bracket member 68 for varying the pressure of the water and thereby controlling the flow of the water from the tank to the interior of the hollow tubular roller 39.

In'the practical use of the form of my device, which has been described, when the press is being operated, power is'imparted to the shaft 12 in any suitable way, and from the shaft 12 is imparted through the various gears hereinbefore described to the other rollers, which have been described and explained.

Water will flow from the tank 70 downwardly through the flexible tube -66 and thence through the passage 52 past the valve formed by the left-hand end of the rod 60 and into the tube 53. From the tube 53, the water flows through the openings 57 to the interior of the hollow roller 39, from whence it passes through the openings 40 to the absorbent material 45.

The water is then distributed by the roller 32 to the rollers 29 and 30 and from them to the plate 33. The plate 33 is inked by mechanism not shown, and leaves an impression on the blanket on the roller 16, from which the paper 72 is printed.

, The flow of water may be adjusted by raising or lowering the tank 7 0, after the set screw 69 has been loosened. By tightening the set screw 69, the tank can be supported in any of its vertical positions.

As the machine operates, it will,be seen that when it travels at low speed, the disc 63 will be near its left-hand limit of movement, and the valve formed at the left-hand end of the rod or shaft will be almost closed. As thespeed of themachine in- I be obvious that the balls will tend to. be thrown outwardly and will pull the rod 60 to the right for increasing/the size of the passage through the. opening 52 and permitting a somewhat corresponding increase in the flow of water from-the tank 70 to the interior of the hollow roller 39.

It will be seen that with a structure of the type herein shown, the machine may be adjusted to almost the exact positions of its parts, which are desirable to secure the best results.

Quick and easy adjustment may also be had, even during the operation of the machine, by raising or lowering the tank 70, thereby varying the pressure on the water discharging through the openings 57 In Figures 6 and 7, I have illustrated other forms of certain parts of my improved device.

This pipe is viewed from the opposite direction, from that from'which the moisture pipe in Figure 9 is viewed.

The pipe has in'its upper end a series of openings 76 preferably corresponding in arrangement and function with the openings 57. Screw-threaded bolts or the like 58,

similar to those already described are mounted inthe lower part of the pipe 75 and form control valves for the holes in the upper part of said pipe. I v

The spindle 77, at the left-hand end of the pipe 66, as viewed in Figure 6, is similar to the spindle or pointed end 55, as shown in Figure 3. Instead of the 'member 50, there is pro, vided in the modified form of the device",- a fitting or the like 7 8,designed to be mountedv on the frame 21, and having extendingdownwardly from the tube or pipe '75 a valve structure. The fitting 78 is provided with an opening 79, which communicates with the passage 75 at one end. Projected into the fitting 78 is a valve 80, having a hole 81 therein. The opening 81 of the valve is adapted whenin oneposition to register with the passage 79, and when in another position to leave the passage '79 closed.

The valve 80 has a stem 82 similar in construction to the rod 60 above described, and 5 designed to be operated in the same way as the rod 60.

Where the device of the modified form-is employed, the tank 70 is mounted/on the bracket member 68in the manner already described. There is provided a steam generator, comprising the receptacle 83 beneath which is aburner 84. At the top of the re-' ceptacle 83 is a valve casing 85, having a laterally extending tubular member 86, connectedwith the lower end of the flexible tube66, as shown in Figure 6. In the lower part of the valve casing 85 is a passage 87, communicating with the interior of the replug cap 90 of the valve casing 85, as indi- 4 cated at 91. v.

Where the form in Figure 6 is employed, the flow of steam to of the device illustrated .the tube 75 and from thence to the hollow roller 39 is controlled by means of the governors and the valve 80.

It is obvious also that the flow of water to the steam generator can be regulated by the needle valve, and also by; raising and lowering the tank 70.

On account of the variety of adjustments provided for in the device herein described, I find that T can regulate and control the flow of moisture to the vibrator roller 31 and thus control the supply of moisture to the plate 33. The machine can be set by the adjustment of the screws 58, so as to do ap- I nishing moisture to the proximately its best Work.

The flow of moisture is also automatically controlled thereafter according to the speed of operation of the press, for thereby fur- V printing plate in proper amounts- For meeting conditions that may vary somewhat, which would not be taken care of to the best advantage by the automatic valve ouiI1 337 control, there is provided the vertical ad justment of the water supply tank. Frequently during one days run, the humidity of the air varies, making highly desirable a quick and easy adjustment for controlling 'is' accomplished by supplying moisture to" the inside of a roller, having an absorbent surface, so that the Water'is passed through such surface and in such passage is thorbroken up. I J V Y or all of the means of control herein described may be employed, and it is obvious that varied combinations of such means mi ht be used under various circumstances. ome changes may be made in the con struction and arrangement of the partsiof from the essential features and my invention, and 1t is my intention to cover my improved moisture supplying devicefor offset printing rollers, without departing urposes of by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, that may be reasonably included within their scope. J

I claim as my invention:

1. A moisture roller for printing machines, comprising a hollow tubular roller, said roller being perforated and having an'ab-.

sorbent cover, a moisture conducting tube projected into said roller and supported independently with relation to the roller, said tube having valve controlled ,openings, a

moisture supply tank, and means for conducting moisture from said tank to said tube.

2. A moisture roller for printing machines, comprising a hollow tubular roller, said roller being perforated and having an absorbent cover, a moisture conducting tube projected into said roller and supported independently with relation to the roller, said tube having valve controlled openings, a moisture supply tank, and means for conducting moisture from said tank to said tube,

said means including a member, having a passagetherein, a valve for controlling said passage, and a governor device for regulating said valve according to the speed of rotation of said roller.

. 3. A moisture roller for printing machines,

comprising a hollow tubular roller, said roller being perforated and having an ab-- sorbent cover, a moisture conducting tube projected into said roller, and supported independently with relation to the roller",- said tube having valve controlled openings, a

moisture supply tank, and means forconducting moisture from said tank to said tube, and means for automatically controlling the flow of moisture from said tank to said tube according to the speed of rotation of said roller.

4; A moisture roller for printing machines,

comprising. a hollow tubular roller, said roller being perforated and having an absorbent cover, a moisture conducting tube projected into said roller and supported independently with relation to the roller, said tube having valve controlled openings, a moisture supply tank, and means for conducting moisture from said tank to said tube, said means including a member, having a passage thereinfa valve for controlling said passage, and a governor device for regulatlng said valve according to the speed of rotation of said roller, said tank being adjustable for regulating the flow of moisture sup-- ply.

5. A moisture roller for printing machines, comprising a hollow tubular roller, said roller being perforated and having an absorbent cover, a moisture conducting tube projected into said roller and supported independently with relation to the roller, said tube having valve controlled openings, a moisture supply tank, and means for conducting moisture from said tank to said tube, said means including a member, having a passage therein, a valve for controlling said passage, and a governor'device for regulating said valve according to the speed of rotation of said roller, said tank being adjustable for regulatingthe flow of moisture' supply, and a steam generator interposed in the path of travel of moisture from the tank to the roller.

6; In a device of the class described, a

moisture roller, a supply tank, means for conducting moisture from said tank to said roller, and means for automatically controlling the supply of moisture from the tank to the roller according to the speed of rotation of the roller, said'tank being vertically adjustable for regulating the supply of moisture therefrom.

7. In a device of the class described, a moisture roller, a supply tank, means for conducting moisture from said tank to said roller, and means for automatically controlling the supply of moisture from the tank to the roller according to the speed of rotation of the roller, said tank being vertically adjustable for regulating the supply of moisture therefrom,'and a steam generator interposed between said tank and said roller.

8. In a device of the class described, a moisture roller, a supply tank, means for conducting moisture from said tank to said roller, said tank being vertically adjustable for regulating the supply of moisture from 1 the tank to the roller, a steam generator in terposed between said tank and said roller.

9. In aAmachine of the class described, a roller having an absorbent surface, means for supplying moisture to the interior. of said surface, and distributing rollers for carrying moisture from said surface to a printing roller, whereby the moisture is distributed by its passage through the surface of said first roller, andmeans for automatically regulating the supply of moisture to the interior of said first roller.

10. In a machine of the class described, a moisture supply roller having an absorbent surface, means for supplying moisture to the interior of said roller, whereby moisture distributed from the outer surface of the roller passes, through such absorbent surface, means for imparting rotation to said roller, and means for automatically controllingthe flowof moisture to the interior of said roller according to the speed of said roller.

11. In a machine of the class described, a

' moisture supply roller having an absorbent surface, means for supplying moisture to the interior of said roller, whereby moisture distributed from the outer surface of the roller passes through such absorbent surface, means for imparting rotation to said roller; and

means for automatically controlling the flow of moisture to the interior of said roller according to the speed of said roller, and an additional means for controlling the flow of moisture tothe interior of said roller.

Des Moines, Iowa, January 28, 1921.

MARION L. STRAWN. 

